Priest Georgiy Izvekov (1874-1937), a talented follower of Kastalsky's direction, was arrested for 'anti-Soviet activities' and executed by firing squad in 1937.
Composer Biography
Alexander Kastalsky (1856-1926), acclaimed for a new choral style in Russian church music, saw his work suppressed after the Bolshevik persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Album & Artwork
The cover art, "There Beyond the Mount," is a woodcut by A. Gubarev (b. 1926) from the Odessa Fine Arts Museum, Ukraine.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in January-February 2006 at Tallinn Methodist Church, Estonia.
Composition History
The music on this album, particularly by Russian and Ukrainian composers, was suppressed by tragic 20th-century events and is only now coming to light, 80-100 years after its composition.
Historical Context
The carol repertoire came into the Orthodox Churches of Russia and Ukraine through the Roman Catholic Church of Poland and Lithuania.
Historical Context
The Feast of the Nativity was instituted by the Church on December 25 in the fourth century A.D. to offset pagan holidays like Saturnalia and the festival of the Invincible Sun.
You might also enjoy...
...And Let My Crying Come Unto Thee
Anthology of Russian Sacred Music
The Gregg Smith Singers: 20th Century American Choral Treasures
Gounod, C.-F.: Choral Music
Warsaw Philharmonic: Koledy
Geistliche Musik für ein ganzes Jahr
Silent Night: A Christmas Program
Choral Music - Tavener, J. / Ligeti, G. / Debussy, C. / Badings, H. / Poulenc, F. / Rutti, C. / Thompson, R.
Scarlatti: Stabat Mater - Campra: Requiem
Weihnachtslieder aus aller Welt (Christmas Carols of the World), Vol. 2
Weihnachtslieder aus aller Welt
Carols from the Old & New Worlds, Vol. III
Christmas, Weihnachten (Noël) : Les chants inoubliables / Unforgettable carols
